How to Trap Mosquitoes in Buckets

Erin Ringwald

The mosquito is a parasite that harasses humans and animals alike. Only the female mosquito sucks blood, but she does so in order to lay her eggs. Unfortunately, when she bites, she can transmit blood-borne diseases. Because of this risk, it is important to take precautions to ensure you and your family are not bitten. One easy precaution is homemade mosquito traps. You can make your own inexpensive traps. One method uses water, a five-gallon bucket and some simple household items. A second method uses just water and buckets.

You can use a bucket to make a mosquito trap.

Method One

Step 1

Bring two gallons of water to a boil. Add 64 ounces of brown sugar to the water and stir to dissolve. Cool the water to 104 degrees..

Step 2

Use a drill to make a hole in the lid of the 5-gallon bucket. The hole will be used to insert the spout of a large funnel, so the size of the hole depends on the size of the spout of your funnel. The exact funnel size is up to you, but longer spouts work best.

Step 3

Pour the cooled sugar water mixture into the bucket. Add one ounce of yeast to the bucket. Place the lid on the bucket.

Step 4

Insert the funnel into the lid hole. Caulk around the seam where the funnel spout and the bucket meet. This will seal the hole so that mosquitoes cannot escape that way.

Step 5

Place the bucket outside. The yeast will convert to carbon dioxide and attract mosquitoes, which will fly down the funnel spout into the dark bucket. It will be difficult for the mosquitoes to escape from the sugary water and they will drown.

Step 6

Dump the sugar water mixture every two weeks and replace it with fresh sugar water. Add additional yeast at this time.

Method Two

Step 7

Ensure all containers that collect water, such as flower pots, birdbaths and garbage cans, are free of standing water.

Step 8

Fill several five-gallon buckets with water and place them in sunny locations. Placing the buckets in the sun allows moss and algae to grow, which will attract mosquitoes. Allow mosquitoes to lay their eggs in the buckets.

Step 9

Watch the buckets until you see pupa. Pupa are the third life stage. First, they are eggs, then larva, then pupa and finally adults. Mosquitos generally reach the pupa stage on the sixth day.